Rail-joint.



Patant ed Ian. 7, I902. vJ. I. HICKMAN &. A. BORROW.

RAIL JOINT.

(Application filed Nov. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNTTE STATES TATENT FFIGE.

JOHN I. HICKMAN AND ALFRED BORROWV, OF MILWVAUKEE, WVISCONSIN.

RAIL-JOINT;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,428, dated January 7 1902.

Application filed November 15, 1900, Serial No. 36,560. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN I. HICKMAN and ALFRED BORROW, citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of \Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in rail-joints for railway-rails.

The object of our invention is to provide a set of supporting-plates adapted to interlock with each other and with the opposing ends of the rails in such a manner as to securely support the rails both laterally and vertically without the use of bolts or rivets for holding any parts together which are relatively movable as the rails expand or contact. In other words, it is our object to provide a set of interlocking plates which will have no absolute connection withthe rail ends, but will permit an indefinite longitudinal movement of the latter, regard being also had for cheapness of construction and durability both against strain and vibration.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side view of our invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View drawn 'on line a: a: of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a top View, partially broken away on one side.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A represents the heads, B the webs, and (J the base-flanges, of railway-rails of ordinary type, except that the heads of the rails, -near the ends, are provided with channels bin their under surfaces, one of these channels being provided on each side of the web, as best shown in Fig. 2.

D is a tie-plate provided with longitudinal channels d in its upper surface, and E E are fish-plates provided with tongues 2, adapted to enter the channels I) in the heads of the opposing rail ends when the fish-plates are in position. These fish-plates are formed to cover the base-flanges of the rails and preferably extend beyond them, with a depending rib or flange F covering the outer edges of the base-flanges of the rails. Lockingplates G are interposed between the tie-plate D and the base-flanges of the rails and are provided with ribs or flanges H, which project upwardly and engage the outer edges or surfaces of the fish-plates E and ribs F, as also best shown in Fig. 2. These lockingplates are provided with longitudinal tongues I on their under surfaces, adapted to enter the channels d when the plates are in position. Rivets J are used to rigidly unite the fish-plates E,1ocking-plates G, and tie-plates D when the parts are in position, and spikes K are used to secure the joint to the ties.

It will be observed that the fish-plates are firmly held or interlocked at their upper and lower edges, being engaged with the heads of the rails at their upper edges and with the locking-plates G at their lower edges, and the locking-plates are also interlocked with the base-plates by means of the tongues g engaging in the channels d, these parts and the lower or outer edges of the fish-plates being also held by means of the rivets J. It is therefore obvious that no bolts or rivets are required to be inserted through the rails, and the latter are thus left free to expand or contract indefinitely. We attach great importance to this fact for the reason that in all forms of joints in which the fish-plates or other splicing connections are bolted to the rails it is necessary to provide openings in the rails of sufficient size to permit the rails to move independently of the bolts when expanding or contracting, and this not only Wears out the bolts or rivets, but the rails or the plates are also frequently so shifted as to cause the bolts to shear or break off, and it is necessary to keep a large force of men constantly employed in watching such joints and removing and replacing worn out and broken bolts. It will also be obvious that our improved structure is unafifected by the vibration of the rails under a heavy load, while where bolts are used such vibration frequently causes the nuts to loosen. This difficulty cannot be cured by the use of rivets, owing to the difliculty and cost of replacing them when broken or worn out. In our construction, however, the rivets do not pass through parts which are relatively movable, but simply through the splicing connections. Hence there is no wear, and owing to the interlocking relation of the parts there is little, if any, strain upon such rivets.

\Vhile we have shown and described the use of locking-plates G, it will be understood that, if desired, such plates may be formed integrally with the tie-plate and the rails raised when adjusting the plates to permit the manipulation of the tie-plate and locking-ribs H into position. The interlocking tongues and channels of the heads and fish-plates and of the tie-plates and locking-plates (when used) are preferably tapered or V-shaped, as shown, both for convenience in forming them and in order to have the tongues slide into position with a wedging action.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of opposing rail ends, having V-shaped channels or recesses in the heads thereof; fish-plates formed to interlock in said channels; a tie-plate located under the rail ends, and provided with V-shaped JOHN I. HIOKMAN. ALFRED BORROW.

\Vitnesses:

J AS. B. ERWIN, LEVERETT 0. WHEELER. 

